Tensions flared at the US embassy as Jamaica and other African nation issued stern warnings to the United States, President Donald Trump urging it to refrain from targeting Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré.
In a video shared by Nigeria’s investgative journalist, David Hundeyin and sighted by NN News Media, the protesters also accused former US President Barack Obama of orchestrating the 2011 killing of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, drawing parallels to perceived threats against Traoré.
Africans worldwide are protesting, urging the US not to intervene in Burkina Faso amid concerns over potential threats to President Traoré.
Meanwhile On Wednesday, thousands gathered in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital, at the Place de la Revolution to rally in support of the military junta. The demonstration followed the government’s claim of foiling a “major plot” to overthrow Traoré, allegedly orchestrated from neighboring Ivory Coast. The protests were further fueled by remarks from Gen. Michael Langley, head of US military operations in Africa, who accused Traoré during a US Senate hearing of misusing Burkina Faso’s gold reserves to enrich the junta while neglecting citizens.
Protesters chanted “Long live Captain Traoré!” and waved Burkina Faso and Russian flags, reflecting the country’s growing ties with Russia. Some held banners defacing Langley’s image with the word “slave” scrawled in red marker. Musician Ocibi Johann, a protester, condemned US actions, stating, “Colin Powell lied, Iraq was destroyed. Obama lied, Gaddafi was killed. Their lies won’t work now. We oppose predation and economic slavery.”
Burkina Faso, alongside Mali and Niger, has faced a jihadist insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State for over a decade. Following coups in all three nations, their juntas severed ties with Western allies like the US and France, which maintained military bases in Niger until last year, and turned to Russia for support. In 2023, the trio formed the Alliance of Sahel States to address regional security.
Traoré, who rose to power in a September 2022 coup, was appointed transitional president, promising security and prosperity. His leadership has resonated widely, particularly among youth. Sekou Ansumariam Dukaly, a Liberian who traveled to Ouagadougou for the protest, called Traoré “hope for Africa, Black people, and freedom fighters worldwide.”
Yet, the junta has struggled to stabilize Burkina Faso. Over 60% of the country remains outside government control, 2.1 million people are displaced, and 6.5 million require humanitarian aid. Human rights groups report widespread abuses by the military and militias, including unlawful killings of civilians suspected of supporting insurgents. The junta’s de facto censorship stifles dissent, with critics facing abduction, imprisonment, or forced conscription, making it difficult to assess the country’s true state.
